Twitter has been taken hostage and is being systematically destroyed by its new owner. It may survive, it may not. Mastodon is an alternative social platform that is like Twitter, and so a bunch of folks are creating accounts there in case Twitter actually sinks.
(image via Jason Blackeye)
How To Get A Mastodon Account:
Getting a Mastodon account up is essentially the same as signing up for anything else. You click a link, choose a name and password, and customize your profile. Then you follow the people/accounts you want to follow.
There is a website and mobile clients. It’s really an alt-version of Twitter once you get it all setup. There are a few steps to get there.
Choose a Server
The one potentially confusing thing is that unlike Twitter is the fact that Mastodon has many servers so you have to pick which server your account will be one.
So an account like ours, @fmc_dylan.mastodon.online is made up of our ‘handle’ (@fmc_dylan) and our server (mastodon.online).
Think of like a bank branch: You’re opening a Bank of America account but you have to choose to go open it at the Branch on Broadway or the Branch on Main street. They’re different locations, have different hours, and different managers. Most of your account issues will be determined by Bank of America, but some minor issues will be based on the branch. Mastodon servers are like that. (Not a perfect analogy but best I’ve got…)
The good news: it probably doesn’t matter. You can go read all about the difference between Mastodon servers if you’d like. We’ve chosen one we’re comfortable with, and are recommending you use that one, but if you’re concerned or curious please go learn more about it.
Create Your Account
Ready?
Complete the signup process
Choose a Handle (the @name you used on twitter or a new one)
Give them an email
Make/save a good password
They will then send a link to your email.
Click that to sign in, but note:
In order to sign in, you have to find the server that holds your account.
If you’re following these instructions your server is ‘mastodon.online’ – so enter that in the search box, and when the Mastodon.Online server shows up, click it and then click ‘Next’.
Now enter your username and password.
Once you’re in, click Preferences on the right side (desktop) then click Profile and customize your profile with a Bio, Header, Avatar, etc. Save.
You made it.
Now Follow People
Having a Mastodon account is like having a Twitter account; it’s not useful if you’re not following anyone and (perhaps) if nobody is following you.
You follow and get followed on Mastodon the same as on Twitter.
One easy way to find many of the Dylan people is to visit our account and click on the list of people we’re following - they’re all Dylan people - and follow them.
Or, here’s a list of some (updated regularly)
@dylyricus@mastodon.online
@rayfp@mastodon.online
@BobDylanSmiling@mastodon.online
@dagb@mastondon.online
@reclinernotes@mastodon.online
@suemyassoff@mastodon.online
@mathewingate@home.social
You can find the rest…
Lifeboat or New Boat
Once you’re setup it’s your call if you want to start being active on Mastodon, or wait to see if/when Twitter falls. We’ve got enough social accounts to manage so do not plan to be active on Mastodon until Twitter really hits the wall. Which of course could be any moment…